Cat adoption

BEDFORD, BIGGLESWADE AND DISTRICT

CATS PROTECTION

ADOPT A CAT

Covering postcodes MK40 - MK45 and SG15 - SG19 (only part of SG19).

Please note that, since home visits are compulsory before a cat can be rehomed, we are unable to place cats outside our geographical area of MK40-45 and SG15-18, plus parts of SG19.

If you live outside this area, please do not contact us

- we are simply not in a position to rehome a cat with you.

Please click here to find information on locating your nearest branch.

Please remember the branch is run entirely by volunteers and we cannot provide a 24 hour service, 365 days a year. Thank you.

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Lost and Found: General Advice

Lost and Found: Case Histories

Introduction

We have a steady stream (on occasions, a torrent!) of cats coming into our care, so we are always looking for good homes for them. If you would like to adopt a cat, please read the guidelines below to see if you qualify, then contact us for more information.

Guidelines

As a Branch we feel it is vital to match the right cat with the right home. To achieve this, we follow the guidelines provided by Head Office, which have been created based on years of experience of what works best. The emphasis is on putting the cat's needs first, and the aim is to pair the cat up with the right family and environment for him or her, and to provide adopters with a cat who suits their lifestyle.

Before rehoming a cat with you, it is therefore compulsory for you to have a home visit from one of our volunteers. This is all part of the process of helping to find a great match of cat and human. This may take longer initially, but the proof is in the pudding - very few of the cats we rehome are returned to us. Honey's and Mitzi's stories below might help you understand why we are so particular.

Please note that we do not own any physical premises, so it is not possible for you to pop along to view all the cats. The cats are looked after by individual volunteers in their own homes, and it is therefore helpful if you can tell us which cats you are interested in meeting, so we can arrange an appointment for you with the appropriate fosterer if you and we wish to go ahead.

Cats Looking for Homes

The situation with the cats in our care changes daily. We do have other cats (and sometimes kittens) looking for good homes who are not featured here on our website. If you can offer a good home to one of our cats but feel the featured cats are not suitable, please do still contact us.

SKITTLES

Skittles is approximately six years old. She is a short-haired tortoiseshell female. Skittles is generally a sweet friendly cat but she can have "naughty tortie" moments if she is not in a sociable mood! She adores being fussed but we don't think she will be a lap-cat. She needs a home where there are no young children, other cats or dogs. Skittles has been spayed, microchipped and vaccinated. She does have a weepy eye which will need regular cleaning - this problem has been examined by a vet and unfortunately there is no more treatment we can give her but it does not cause her any problems.

Streetwise/used to busy roads: NO
Can be homed with young children: NO
Can be homed with other cats: NO
Can be homed with dogs: NO

MINOU

Minou is a long-haired, black and white boy. He is six years old. His name means "Pussy Cat" in French. Minou is a friendly boy, he is used to living with an older person so his new home should have no young children, other cats or dogs as he is used to being the centre of attention. He has been neutered and microchipped and vaccinated.

Streetwise/used to busy roads: NO
Can be homed with young children: NO
Can be homed with other cats: NO
Can be homed with dogs: NO

MOLLY

Molly is a pretty tabby short-haired female. She is approximately 3-4 years old. Molly is an affectionate cat looking for a home where there are no very young children or dogs but if introduced gradually should be ok living with another cat, it may be best if this is an older male cat. Molly has been spayed, microchipped and fully vaccinated.

Streetwise/used to busy roads: NO
Can be homed with young children: NO
Can be homed with other cats: YES
Can be homed with dogs: NO

CHARLIE AND LOLA

Charlie and Lola are approximately 6-7 months old. Both are ginger and white, Charlie is long-haired and Lola is short-haired. They are friendly cats who are very active and playful.

They are brother and sister who need a home together. They should not to be homed with very young children or dogs, but should be fine to live with other cats. Both cats have been neutered, microchipped and vaccinated.

Streetwise/used to busy roads: NO
Can be homed with young children: NO
Can be homed with other cats: YES
Can be homed with dogs: NO

BUBBA

Bubba is approximately 12 years old. She is a lovely short-haired, tabby female. Bubba is a sweet, gentle cat looking for a quiet home where there are no young children, other cats or dogs. She has been microchipped and had her first vaccination. If she has not had her second vaccination before going to a new home, we will cover the cost of having this done.

Bubba appears to have a slightly weak bladder muscle. She is fine most of the time, but when asleep it would seem her muscles relax and she can sometimes leave a tiny wet patch. She uses a litter tray fine and is a very clean girl, this only appears to happen when she is sleeping, and not every time. She is currently on medication to help with this problem and we would advise the new owners to continue this medication, which involves putting drops in her food. If necessary Cats Protection would be happy to cover the cost of this medication and any future veterinary costs relating to her bladder.

Bubba is such a lovely girl she really deserves the chance of a loving home with someone who understands her.

Streetwise/used to busy roads: NO
Can be homed with young children: NO
Can be homed with other cats: NO
Can be homed with dogs: NO

SALLY

Sally is approximately 6-7 years old. She is a short-haired black and white female. Sally is a lovely cat who is looking for an understanding owner. She loves people and is very sweet but does not like children or babies, therefore she needs an adult only home. She has already been rehomed from us once and then sadly came back into foster care after the birth of a baby so we need to ensure her next home is a forever home. Sally does not like other cats or dogs either so must be an only pet. In the right home Sally will make a great companion and offer lots of love. She has been neutered, microchipped and fully vaccinated.

Streetwise/used to busy roads: YES
Can be homed with young children: NO
Can be homed with other cats: NO
Can be homed with dogs: NO

TOBY

Toby is approximately three years old. He is a short-haired black and white male. Toby is a nice friendly boy, a real attention seeker who loves cuddles. He needs a home with no children or dogs. He should be ok living with another cat if introduced gradually, this may work best if he is homed with an older female cat.

Toby does get a little excitable and play rough sometimes, so his new owners will need to be prepared for this! He has been neutered & microchipped, and he is currently having his vaccinations brought up to date.

Streetwise/used to busy roads: REASONABLY - NOT MAIN ROADS
Can be homed with young children: NO
Can be homed with other cats: YES
Can be homed with dogs: NO

JESS

Jess is approximately two years old. She is a short-haired black female. Jess is a very sweet natured friendly cat. She is very active and playful, and loves attention. She needs a home where there are no other cats or dogs, and where there are no very young children. She has been neutered and micro-chipped and is currently having her vaccinations brought up-to-date.

Streetwise/used to busy roads: NO
Can be homed with young children: NO
Can be homed with other cats: NO
Can be homed with dogs: NO

HENRY and NELL

Henry and Nell are approximately five months old. They are both beautiful long-haired tabbies.
As brother and sister, we would like them homed as a pair. They would be better in a home where there are no young children or dogs.

Both have been fully vaccinated and micro-chipped.

Streetwise/used to busy roads : NO
Can be homed with young children: NO
Can be homed with other cats: YES
Can be homed with dogs: NO

MINNIE

Minnie is approximately six months old, she is a short-haired black and white female. Minnie is a sweet little girl, she will initially be shy having not having a home for a while and having to fend for herself. Once she knows you, she loves a fuss and purrs like an engine, although she is still a little unsure about being picked up. Due to her being shy she will need a home where there are no young children or dogs, but she may be happy to share her new home with another cat. Minnie has been spayed and microchipped, and is currently having her vaccinations brought up-to-date.

Streetwise/used to busy roads : NO
Can be homed with young children: NO
Can be homed with other cats: YES
Can be homed with dogs: NO

FRED & BARNEY

Fred and Barney are approximately five months old. They are both handsome, short-haired, black, males. Although not litter mates, we would like them homed as a pair. Straightforward, affectionate and playful pair. Both have been fully vaccinated and micro-chipped.

Streetwise/used to busy roads : NO
Can be homed with young children: YES
Can be homed with other cats: YES
Can be homed with dogs: NO

LITTER OF FOUR KITTENS
These four kittens are looking for a home. There are two black and white males, one black male and one black female.

The kittens are all short-haired and are approx 16 weeks old. These are friendly, straightforward kittens, who can be homed together or separately.

They have all had their first vaccination and been microchipped, if they have not had their second vaccination before going to new homes we will cover the cost of having this done.

Streetwise/used to busy roads : NO
Can be homed with young children: YES
Can be homed with other cats: YES
Can be homed with dogs: YES

KATIE

Katie is a pretty tabby short-haired neutered female. She is approximately 6-7 years old. She is a friendly little cat who adores fuss and cuddles. She needs a home where there are no young children or dogs. She has not lived with other cats before but if introduced gradually and carefully might be happy to live alongside another friendly cat, this may work best if she is introduced to a male cat. Kitty has been vaccinated and microchipped.

Streetwise/Used to busy roads: NO
Can be homed with young children: NO
Can be homed with other cats: YES
Can be homed with dogs: NO

WORKING CATS

We often have working cats looking for outdoor homes on farms, stables and smallholdings. In return for regular meals, they can offer a very effective and safe method of vermin control, especially around animal feed. We generally like to home at least two of these cats together as they are more likely to stay where they are placed if they have company.

These working cats tend to have been born outside or lived as strays for quite some time, and are not happy with a lot of human contact or being confined in a domestic situation. They are much happier living outside, where they can enjoy their freedom but receive regular food, water and have a dry barn or stable where they can sleep.

When we first place a working cat on site, they need to be confined in a cat-proof place for the first 2-3 weeks so they get accustomed to their new surroundings, if you do not have a suitable place for this we do have collapsible pens we can lend out for this purpose until they are released.

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We usually have other cats needing homes. The situation changes almost daily, so please feel free to contact us to discuss the kind of cat you would like to adopt, or to ask if one of the cats described above is still available for adoption.

Adoption Success Stories

Honey's Story - Honey wasn't always so sweet!

About a year ago our help was enlisted by a gentleman who could no longer gain access to his flat (apartment) because his one year old female cat, Honey, had "gone wild', We lent him a trap and he managed to catch her and get her spayed, hoping this would calm her down. All was then quiet for six months, but then Honey gave a repeat performance. Honey, however, was now wise to the nasty metal cage, even if it did contain food, and refused to go in the trap, so her owner had to decamp to his daughter's house and we waited until Honey had calmed down - several days later. Her owner had by then decided he could no longer cope with her behaviour and felt it was unfair to keep her cooped up in the flat (Honey was kept permanently indoors) and signed Honey over to us.

The cat I brought home with me, a beautiful longhaired ginger female, proved to be an extremely nervous, unpredictable little cat, who knew very little of the ways of the cat or human world; she barely knew how to play (although she had a whole bag full of cat toys) or interact with humans, and treated other cats with extreme caution. After a few days under the bed in my spare room, venturing out only at night to eat, she decided to have a look around and never really wanted to go back in. She was continually on the go, to the point of being hyperactive, exploring every nook and cranny and chimney, ad infinitum. She was fascinated by anything and everything; a whole new learning experience was just beginning.

After about three weeks I donned her harness - she had been outside only a few times in her previous life - and we ventured outside. One quick circuit of the garden was sufficient for fear to get the better of curiosity and she headed for the door. We repeated this exercise a few more times.

After about four and a half weeks I had to pass Honey on to another fosterer as I was going away on holiday. There she settled in even better and discovered cuddles and laps - a side she had not shown me.

After another few weeks a lovely couple came forward who were prepared to give Honey a home despite her foibles. She has settled really well and is becoming more and more 'normal' as time goes by. With each move she seemed to come out of herself a little more - she was learning fast about the big, wide world.

The frustration of a young, energetic cat living in a small flat led, in this case, to some very undesirable behaviour and underlines the care with which you should select an animal for such a lifestyle and the effort it takes to provide them with enough mental and physical stimulation to keep them happy from then on. Fortunately, in this case, there was a happy ending.

Alison

Mitzi's Story

Mitzi was born to a semi-feral cat who found her own way to one of our fosterers asking for help. The mother was taken in and her kittens were cared for. All but one of the litter siblings were tamed and went to loving homes as house pets, but Mitzi, who was tortoiseshell and white like her mother, remained shy and nervous in spite of every attention.

When Mitzi was about five months old, the ideal home was found for her with a family who had a great understanding of animals. They had a large house with plenty of ground space, stables and barns. The family already had lots of animals including dogs and peacocks but still had room for more to live happily alongside each other. Mitzi had grown up with her fosterer's big dogs so living with other animals would not be a problem.

As soon as Mitzi was six months old she was spayed and after recovery she was taken to her new home. She settled in very well as a farm cat. She now lets her new owners scratch her neck and rub her back. She still hides when the children appear but all in all she is very happy in the home we were able to offer her.

We are always on the look out for homes for cats such as Mitzi who do not fit the bill as a 'lap cat'. Please contact us if you think you could offer a home to a cat in need.

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This page last updated: 31 August 2010